Hepatoerythropoietic Porphyria

National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

ImportantIt is possible that the main title of the report Hepatoerythropoietic Porphyria is not the name you expected.

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

SummaryHepatoerythropoietic porphyria (HEP) is an extremely rare genetic disorder characterized by deficiency of the enzyme, uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase. This deficiency is caused by mutations of both copies of a person's UROD gene, which means that the disorder is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Most affected individuals have a profound deficiency of this enzyme and onset of the disorder is usually during infancy or early childhood. However, some individuals may have a mild form that can go undiagnosed until adulthood. The childhood form of HEP is often associated with painful, blistering skin lesions that develop on sun-exposed skin (photosensitivity). Affected areas of skin can scar and become discolored. There may be risk of bacterial infection. Abnormal, excessive hair (hypertrichosis) on affected skin is also common. Mild anemia and abnormal enlargement of the liver and/or spleen (hepatosplenomegaly) have also been reported. Mild cases of HEP may go unrecognized until adulthood and can be clinically indistinguishable from porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), a related disorder that may be acquired or occur in individuals with a mutation of one UROD gene (autosomal dominant inheritance). Cutaneous photosensitivity is generally much more severe in HEP than in PCT. NORD has a separate report on porphyria cutanea tarda.

Introduction

HEP belongs to a group of disorders known as the porphyrias. This group of at least seven disorders is characterized by abnormally high levels of porphyrins and porphyrin precursors due to deficiency of certain enzymes essential to the creation (synthesis) of heme, a part of hemoglobin and other hemoproteins. There are eight enzymes in the pathway for making heme and at least seven major forms of porphyria. The symptoms associated with the various forms of porphyria differ. It is important to note that people who have one type of porphyria do not develop any of the other types. Porphyrias are generally classified into two groups: the "hepatic" and "erythropoietic" types. Porphyrins and porphyrin precursors and related substances originate in excess amounts predominantly from the liver in the hepatic types and mostly from the bone marrow in the erythropoietic types. Porphyrias with skin manifestations are sometimes referred to as "cutaneous porphyrias". The term "acute porphyria" is used to describe porphyrias that can be associated with sudden attacks of pain and other neurological symptoms. HEP is a hepatic and cutaneous porphyria.

Supporting Organizations

American Porphyria Foundation

4900 Woodway, Suite 780

Houston, TX 77056-1837

Tel: (713)266-9617

Fax: (713)840-9552

Tel: (866)273-3635

Email: porphyrus@aol.com

Website: http://www.porphyriafoundation.com

British Porphyria Association

136 Devonshire Rd

Durham City, DH1 2BL

United Kingdom

Tel: 1474369231

Email: helpline@porphyria.org.uk

Website: http://www.porphyria.org.uk

CLIMB (Children Living with Inherited Metabolic Diseases)

Climb Building

176 Nantwich Road

Crewe, CW2 6BG

United Kingdom

Tel: 4408452412173

Fax: 4408452412174

Email: enquiries@climb.org.uk

Website: http://www.CLIMB.org.uk

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

PO Box 8126

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126

Tel: (301)251-4925

Fax: (301)251-4911

Tel: (888)205-2311

Website: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/

Norwegian Porphyria Centre

Haukeland University Hospital

Postboks 7804

Bergen, NO-5021

Norway

Tel: 4755973050

Fax: 4755973115

Email: porfyri@helse-bergen.no

Website: http://www.napos.no

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). For a full-text version of this report, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

Last Updated: 3/17/2016Copyright 2016 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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